Courses and Syllabi
The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes.
Art History Spring 2020
Undergraduate
100-Level Courses in ARTH
Introduction to the content and principles of the visual arts. Approach varies with instructor. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
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- 001
— Lisa Passaglia Bauman — 01:30 PM to 02:45 PM TR —
Planetary Hall (formerly Science & Tech I) 131
Introduces themes and imagery in art. Approaches and traditions to explore vary with the instructor. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Introduces study, principle, and understanding of art of architecture. Approach varies with instructor; may be historical, geographical, technical, or thematic. Notes: Field trips required. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
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- 001
— Lisa Passaglia Bauman — 10:30 AM to 11:45 AM MW —
Art & Design Building L008
This class will offer a chronological overview of the history of design in the 20th century, including industrial design, communication design, interior and landscape architecture, as well as corporate branding and new media from each period/major design movement. Topics discussed will include major design styles and movements, significant designers, manufacturers, and design-related companies, innovations in technology and material use, and the development of sales, marketing, and user-focused design. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
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- 001
— Lisa Passaglia Bauman — 01:30 PM to 02:45 PM MW —
Art & Design Building 2026
200-Level Courses in ARTH
Major periods, monuments, and themes of Western art and architecture. Introduces Washington, D.C., museum collections and a historical framework for further study in art history. Covers prehistory, the ancient world, and the Middle Ages. Notes: Designed as a two-course sequence, but each part may be taken independently without prerequisite. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
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- 001
— Erik Gustafson — 12:00 PM to 01:15 PM MW —
Robinson Hall B113
Major periods, monuments, and themes of Western art and architecture. Introduces Washington, D.C., museum collections and a historical framework for further study in art history. Covers the art of the Renaissance, the baroque period, and modern Europe and the Americas. Notes: Designed as a two-course sequence, but each part may be taken independently without prerequisite. Limited to three attempts.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
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- 001
— Heather M McGuire — 12:00 PM to 01:15 PM TR —
Robinson Hall B113
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- 002
— Heather M McGuire — 10:30 AM to 11:45 AM TR —
Robinson Hall B113
Introduces arts of Africa, from antiquity to the present day. Presents a variety of arts In relatlon to their historical and cultural contexts, and makes use of local museum resources. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
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- 001
— 03:00 PM to 04:15 PM TR —
Robinson Hall B113
300-Level Courses in ARTH
Aspects of the art, archaeology, and culture of ancient Near East and Bronze Age Mediterranean. Approach varies depending on instructor; emphasis may be on Mesopotamia, Iran, Egypt, Anatolia, the Levant, or the Aegean. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Arts of the Hellenistic age within the context of history and culture of the period. Explores the powerful dynasties ruling wealthy empires; achievements in learning and literature housed in the Great Library at Alexandria; baroque sculpture adorning the Altar of Zeus at Pergamon; and Roman collectors of Greek art and antiques. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Aspects of art and architecture in medieval Europe, from the fall of the Roman Empire through the Gothic period. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
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- 001
— Erik Gustafson — 03:00 PM to 04:15 PM TR —
Art & Design Building 2026
This course studies Venetian society and culture through the visual arts. Venice was a center of maritime trade in the late medieval and early modern Europe. Situated on the northeast coast of Italy, Venice was a hub for merchants, pilgrims, diplomats, soldiers, and sailors traveling around the Mediterranean region. These encounters shaped Venice’s rich visual and material culture, which integrated features from other parts of Italy, northern Europe, the Byzantine Empire, Ottoman Turkey, North Africa, and Classical Greece and Rome into a distinctive aesthetic. In this course, we will study the major monuments (e.g., the church of San Marco and the Ducal Palace) and the celebrated artists (e.g., the Bellini family, Titian, Palladio, and Tiepolo). We will also consider other media that are often left out of art history surveys but were equally important to Venetian art, including the city’s famous glass production, luxury textile industry, print and publishing, and mosaics. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
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- 001
— Angela Ho — 10:30 AM to 11:45 AM MW —
Enterprise Hall 173
Study of major movements (fauvism, cubism, futurism, constructivism, surrealism, and expressionism) and important artists in 20th-century painting and sculpture. Focus may vary. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Developments in visual culture and the changing status of art practitioners throughout these periods. Focus is either chronological (Colonial Period, Gilded Age) or thematic (19th-century genre scenes, the American landscape and national identity). Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Explores visual art production since 1980, drawing on regional resources. Examines social, institutional, and political issues in recent art and its markets. Notes: Requires students to work collaboratively and make several field trips, including one Saturday bus trip to New York. Specific topics and assignments vary with the changing art season and instructor. Lecture, discussion. Limited to three attempts.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
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- DL1
— Heather M McGuire —
Online
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- 001
— Heather M McGuire — 01:30 PM to 02:45 PM TR —
Robinson Hall B113
Internship with a professional arts institution, organization, or individual in the Washington, D.C., area. Project to be arranged by student in consultation with faculty instructor and field supervisor. Notes: Strongly recommended for advanced art history students seeking exposure to professional work in visual arts. May be taken for 3 to 6 credits, or repeated for up to 6 credits. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
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- 001
— Vanessa Meikle Schulman
Examines history, theory, practice, ethics, and current problems of collecting and displaying art and artifacts to the public. Emphasizes issues central to museums in Washington, D.C., or museums in other locations; focus varies with instructor. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
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- 001
— Vanessa Meikle Schulman — 04:30 PM to 07:10 PM W —
Nguyen Engineering Building 1107
400-Level Courses in ARTH
Studies a particular aspect of Renaissance or baroque art. Topics may be monographic, thematic, or concentrated on the art of a smaller time period or a particular area. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Study of a particular topic in 20th century European art. Course may focus on a specific period, region, movement, medium, or theoretical issue, or explore cultural connections and transfer between regions. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 9 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Seminar-style discussions on a specific topic in Asian art. May focus on the art of a particular period, movement, reign, or region, as well as theoretical issues or works in a particular medium. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 6 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Conduct hands-on research with objects and primary and secondary sources. Select particular artifacts, works of art, or group of objects and undertake original research, and bring objects from storage to publication to exhibition. Develops skills in material analysis, critical reading, and academic writing. Focuses on VA/DC/MD libraries, archives, and storerooms. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Topics in ARTH
Aspects of art and architecture in medieval Europe, from the fall of the Roman Empire through the Gothic period. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
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- 001
— Erik Gustafson — 03:00 PM to 04:15 PM TR —
Art & Design Building 2026
Developments in visual culture and the changing status of art practitioners throughout these periods. Focus is either chronological (Colonial Period, Gilded Age) or thematic (19th-century genre scenes, the American landscape and national identity). Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Studies a particular aspect of Renaissance or baroque art. Topics may be monographic, thematic, or concentrated on the art of a smaller time period or a particular area. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
Read More »
1 Section Currently Scheduled
Study of a particular topic in 20th century European art. Course may focus on a specific period, region, movement, medium, or theoretical issue, or explore cultural connections and transfer between regions. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 9 credits.
Read More »
1 Section Currently Scheduled
Seminar-style discussions on a specific topic in Asian art. May focus on the art of a particular period, movement, reign, or region, as well as theoretical issues or works in a particular medium. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 6 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Graduate
500-Level Courses in ARTH
Internship with a professional arts institution, organization, or individual in the Washington, D.C., area. Project to be arranged by student in consultation with faculty instructor and field supervisor. Notes: Recommended for advanced art history students seeking exposure to professional work in visual arts. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Examines history, theory, practice, ethics, and current problems of collecting and displaying art and artifacts to the public. Emphasizes issues central to museums in Washington, D.C., or museums in other locations. Focus may vary with instructor. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
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- 001
— Vanessa Meikle Schulman — 04:30 PM to 07:10 PM W —
Nguyen Engineering Building 1107
Topics vary. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
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3 Sections Currently Scheduled
600-Level Courses in ARTH
Offers graduate-level survey in academic art history led by an instructor of record, with input from full Art History faculty. Participants review the current field through lectures, focused readings and group discussions with relevant faculty member. Participants may read in more depth in areas of special interest. Provides preparation for MA exams and professional preparation for teaching. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
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- 001
— Jacquelyn Williamson — 04:30 PM to 07:10 PM T —
Research Hall 202
Topics in ARTH
Topics vary. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
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3 Sections Currently Scheduled
